Electroplating apparatus



Dec. 10, 1935. B. G. DAW

ELECTROPLATING' APIARATUS Filed Sept. 18, 1933 2 Sheets-Sheet l Dec. 10, 1935. B. G. DAW

ELECTROPLATING APPARATUS 2 sheets -sheet 2 Filed Sept. 18, 1933 Patented Dec. 10, 1935 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE Burton G. Daw, Webster Groves, Mo. Application September 18, 1933, Serial No. 689,845

' 3 Claims.

This invention relates to electro-plating apparatus, and has special reference to mechanism for supporting and moving the work or articles to be plated through a series of solution tanks.

In general the present invention comprises a continuously moving endless conveyor'pivotally supporting a series of work supports upon which.

the articles to,be plated are mounted, cam or guide, devices for raising the work supports at the ends 'of the respective tanks so as to permit the work supportsto pass over the ends of said tanks and from one tank to another and then to extend downwardly to immerse the work on said supports in the solution in the respective tanks,

and cam or guide devices for operating the work supports to discharge work therefrom after the work has been passed through the respective solution tanks.

An' object of the invention is to provide an improved electro-plating apparatus embodying a series of work supports pivotally mounted in connection with an endless and continuously operating conveyor, and mechanism for operating and moving said work supports as required to extend them downwardly to immerse the work in a solution in a series of solution tanks and to raise the work supports above the end walls of the solution tanks to permit them to pass from one solution tank to another without obstruction, and mechanism for operating the work supports in another direction to discharge the .work therefrom.

Other objects of the invention will be readily apparent from the following description, reference being made to the annexed drawings, in

which- Fig. 1 is a side elevation of a sufficient portion of an electro-plating apparatus embodying the present invention to afford an understanding of duplications of the parts shown in a complete electro-plating apparatus.

Fig. 2 is a vertical sectional view on the-line 2-2 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a vertical sectional view on the line 3-3 of Fig. 1, showing the position of the work supports in passing over the end walls of adjacent solution tanks.

Fig. 4 is a sectional view on the line 4-4 of Fig. 1, illustrating further the manner which the work supports are operated.

Fig. 5 is a sectional view on the line 55 of Fig. 1, showing a work support in position to discharge the work therefrom.

Fig. 6 is a view showing a work support of a different type in position to have an article to be plated mounted thereon. i

Fig. 7 is a view of the same work support having the article mounted thereon and in the position it occupies when in the solution. i

Fig. 8 is a view showing the same work support in the position it occupies when the work is discharged therefrom after having been plated.

Fig. 9 is a view showing a clamping type of work support in open position to receive an ar- 10 ticle between the jaws of the clamp.

- Fig. 10 .is a similar view showing this work support in the position it occupies while supporting the work in the solution.

Fig. 11 is a view of the same work support dis- 15 charging the work therefrom.

The tanks I may be considered as two of a series or rows of tanks containing 'solution through which the articles to be platedare moved by operation ofthis invention.

An endless conveyor 2, which in the present instance is a chain, has certain of the link pivots 3 extended upwardly. Plates or discs 4 in .the general form of washers are attached to the up. per ends of the extended pivots 3 by nuts Sand these plates or discs 4 are mounted for sliding movements on the inwardly extended flanges of angle bars 6 supported by a strong frame 1. The chain may be operated by any suitable mechanism or gearing. The pivots 3 are also extended 0 downwardly and certain pairs of said pivots support brackets 8, each having near its lower end a pivot 9 on which a work supporting rack mem-' ber Ill is pivoted for swinging movements. The

work supporting member ID may be provided'with 5 a series of rack arms I I on which the articles to be plated'may be mounted and each member I0 is also provided near its upper end with a rigid laterally extended arm l2.

The arms l2 are arranged so that they will ex- 40 tend over and operate along and against cam members 13 mounted above the end walls of each pair of adjacent solution tanks l. Accordingly,

.when the work supports [0 are moved laterally the arms l2 operate against the cams Hand-15 thereby swing the members ID from downwardly extended vertical position to approximately horizontal position, asshown in Fig. 3, and support said members In in said approximately horizontal position long enough for said members III to pass over the end walls of the solution tanks I. After passing over the end walls ofthe solution tanks I, the members l0 again swing downwardly because of the formation of the cam members J3, as

should be understood by reference to Fig. 1;

This construction maybe duplicated for as many solution tanks as are provided and-the illustration and description given is intended to apply to the duplication of these features.

After the work has been passed through all of the solution tanks and subjected to the action of the electrolytic solution, it is desirable to discharge the article irom these work supports. For

this purpose I provide a cam ll disposed at an angle with respect to the cams I3, so that the upper side ofthe arms I2 will operate against this cam l4 and thereby swing the members I2 upwardly in the opposite direction, so that the arms II are extended downwardly, as shown in Fig. 5.

This-will discharge the plated articles from said arms I I into any suitable receptacle or onto a conveyor I5 (Fig. 1). After leaving the cam I4,

the arms I2 pass into engagement with a guide rail I6 whereby the members I2 are substantially held from swinging movements and are guided properly until reloaded, and thereafter to and through the respective solution tanks in the manner described.

It is apparent that different types of work supports may be substituted for the supporting members I0. For instance, the work supports shown in Figs. 6, 7 and 8 may be used. As there shown, a supportingmember I is mounted on the pivot and adapted to operate .against the cams I3 and against the cam I4 in the same manner that the arms l2 operate against said cams. The work support in connection with the arm I0 comprises a finger I! attached to the end of the member III, and the cooperating finger I8 attached to the end of an angular lever I9 mounted on a pivot 20 supported by the member III. A spring 2| actuates the finger I8' away from the finger II.

The fingers l1 and I8 are designed and intended to be extended into hollow or cylindrical or tubular articles 22, or into any articles provided with openings that will receive the fingers I1 and I8. The spring 2I spreads apart the fingers I1 and I8 and causes them to engage the inner surfaces ofthe articles placed thereon and thereby frictionally support said articles. Beyond the last solution tank a cam rail 23 is appropriately supported in position to be engaged by the free arm of the angular lever I9 so as to move the finger I 8 toward or into contact with the finger l1 and prevent the fingers I1 and I8 from being pressed against the inner surface of the article 22. This will permit the article 22 to drop fror.

said fingers 'into an appropriate receptacle or out I the conveyor I5. After passing from the cam de vice 23 the angular lever I9 engages a reverse cam 24 which presses the fingers I1 and ID to-- ward each other, so that another article may easily be placed thereon. After the article is placed on the fingers I1 and II the angular lever I9 moves from the cam 24 and thereafter automatically immerses the articlein the solution in pivot 0 and having an arm I2 designed and adapted to operate the cams I3 and I4 in the same mannerthat the arms I2 operate against said cams. One end of the member ID is formed with a jaw '26 and an angular cooperating jaw 21 is mounted on a pivot 28 supported by the member III. A spring 29 'is mounted in position to cooperate with .the angular jaw 21 to press said jaw toward the jaw 25 and thereby clamp articles, such as the article 25, between said jaws; The jaw 21 at loading position is moved away from the jaw 26 by a cam 30 engaging against the free end of the angular jaw 21,

as shown in Fig. 9.

In unloading position the arm I2 is against the cam I3, as shown in Fig. 11, and the free end of the angular jaw 21 is against a cam'3l (Fig. 11)

which releases the jaw 21 from the article and permits said article to drop into a suitable receptacle or onto the conveyor I5.

Obviously different types of work supports may be interchanged with those shown and I con- 20 without departure from the nature and principle of the invention. I do notrestrict myself in any unessential particulars, but what I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:-

1. In an electro-plating apparatus, a movable support, a work supporting member pivotally connected'with said support for swinging movements in opposite directions from downwardly extended position, a laterally extended arm rigid with said a member, a cam engaged by said arm durin8 movement of said member and said arm to move 40 tanks for continuous horizontal movement, a

work carrier pivotally supported by said support and depending therefrom and adapted to be so moved through said tanks successively, a laterally extended arm rigid with said carrier, a cam engaged by said arm during movement of said car-' rier and said arm to move said carrier upwardly in one direction above the adjacent walls of said tanks to permit said work carrier to pass from one tank to another, and an' additional cam disposed angularly with respect to said first named cam and engaged by said arm to swing said carv rier upwardly in the opposite direction during no movement of said carrier. 3. In an electro-plating apparatus, a continuously moving support, a clamping device pivotally supported by said support for engaging and supporting the work, a laterally extended arm rigid with said support, a cam engaged by said arm during movement of said support and said arm to move said supportupwardly in one direction, an additional cam engaged by said arm to swing said arm upwardly in the opposite direction, and means for disengaging said clamping device from the work.

- BURTON G. DAW. 

